Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-05-05

\ Famous Detectives Ideas Conrcrn-
Ing Their Protection and Employ
mCnt.


Ing Their Protection and Employ
mcnt.
The question arises as TO how these
men can be employed. or course, il il
not possible to force these men into
employment neither would it be prop
er TO put them INTO responsible posi-
tons. They should be graded accord
ing To their intelligence and education.
There are many places where Wea of
tins kind could be employed where
there would he no motive for them to
steal, and where it would be impossible
for them To do SO. Many of them would
find employment themselves, and, if let
alone, would continue in such employ
ment, but some society would have to
te formed similar 10 the Society of the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to
protect them. Its agents should be in
all parts of the country. For instance,
where man has been convicted of Il
u llLC III NCN Il VI ~ VII LNllIs lNItlSCu
from prison it smight be necessary, in
order TO keep him away from his old
associates, and give hlm new start in
life, to send him TO some other city or
locality. Communication should be
kept up between these various agents
of the society III the different parts of
the country, and one could help the
other. am satisfied that if an organi-
ZatiOn of this kind were once started
and properly managed unGer honest
and competent officers and agents, il
would soon gain the confidence OF the
public and charitable men and women
who would come to its aid, and be a.
mOng the most earnest and influential
looking toward the reformation of these
men and women. Men coming from
prison would soon learn TO have conf
dence in the society, and would be con-
vlnced that they could trust it, and
that people merely for the sake of curl
osity could not ascertain anything in
regard 10 them. OF course there would
BE- criminals who would endeavor to i'm
pose on the society and try TO use it for
the purpose of prompting some Of their
schemes, but | venture TO say that the
number would be very few. The sCci-
ETY. should also make it rule that
where an effort had been made TO re-
form a man, and he had Intentionally
and willfuliy deceived the society and
still pursued II life of crime, the society'S
course would be TO give information TO
the police which would enable them TO
follow the man and cause him to again
be stopped in his criminal career. There
are already prison aid societies." No
doubt they are OF COZ siderable benefit,
but their means are not sufficient TO en-
able them ID be OF 4 great deal of SER
vice, and men who haYc been criminals
and 10 whom | hale talked in regard 20
reforming, haye expressed 10 me their
lack of confidence in them. The inyar-
liable conclusion reached has been that
the principal thing that is given 10y
them is advice and very little assist
ance. 1t is just possible that this may
arise from lack Of funds. If society
of this kind were organized of course il
would be necessary TO keep complete
record Of all those who had hcen assist
ed, and the employment they Had been
put at. 1t would also be necessary for
the agents of the society To keep look
out for the welfare of these men, and to
see how they were getting along. The
books and records of the society should
of course be considered secret, and no
information should be given from the
same unless the SGcicty'S agent were
thoroughly convinced that il was for
the purpose of aiding the ends of JUS
tice. Whenever complaint Vas made
about any one who had been a criminal
that he was being prosecuted Ivy police
officials or others, the society should at
once take steps To pul stop to such
persecution.
\ man who has been known as n pro-
feSsional criminal, starting ont to re-
form, has an almost impossible Isk to
accomplish, and although number
have succeeded, very many have been
forced back from their good resolution
by persecution on the part of police Of
lici9ls and those who haye know them
in their criminal career.-R0Jcrt 4.